We are looking for an Apprentice R&D Technician to join our Team at our Hillhouse site. With big ambitions for the future there has never been a better time to join Victrex You'll receive first class, on the job, training from a dedicated team, whilst earning a competitive salary - not to mention an industry recognised qualification too. This opportunity is much more than a job - it is a development programme that has all the hallmarks to kickstart your career within a business which has a very exciting agenda. You will be joining a community of apprentices, who not only have the ability to drive positive change through the work they do on the job, but also shaping a culture where everybody at Victrex thrives. Therefore, whether you are interested in joining one of our Employee Representation Groups (ERG's), becoming an ally, or support our STEM agenda, we'll support you with your goals. The Role This position will expect you to take a hands-on approach when organise and perform experiments and analysis in support of technology projects. You will accelerate and spearhead the evaluation and development of PAEK products for our customers. They’ll want you to be ambitious when discussing the company approach when responding to product quality issues, continuous improvement opportunities for existing and new processes and plant. You will complete a Level 3 Polymer Processing Apprenticeship via one of our trusted training providers. The duration of this Apprenticeship is approximately 24 months and if successful, you will join our 2024 Apprenticeship Intake in September. Responsibilities: - Assists in, plan and perform experiments on pilot/production scale equipment. Carry out small scale manufacturing trials and capability studies. Adherence to the Company's SHE (Safety, Health and Environmental) policy, ISO quality requirements, and R&D functional standards. Collation and analyses of data using a range of in-house and external analytical services to evaluate the properties of materials produced. Preparation of materials for customer samples. Support root cause analysis and investigations for customer complaints & internal quality incidents. Requirements: - Demonstrable working knowledge of a range of analytical and manufacturing techniques. Willingness to take accountability and use initiative when carry out daily responsibilities. Be curious about the opportunity and enthusiastic to learn new skills. Strong analytical, communication, delivery, organisation, and team-working skills. IT proficient using various software including Office 365. GCSE or equivalent in English Language and Mathematics (grade 4 or above). Level 3 in relevant scientific or technical discipline (A-Level or BTEC in Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Applied Science etc.) Our Offer to You We pay our apprentices a competitive wage at Victrex - so whilst you may be in training, you can be sure that you will be rewarded as your confidence and skills grow in role. Apart from a great base salary, you will be enrolled in our company bonus scheme and be if eligible be invited to join our Company Pension Scheme where 5% employee contributions will attract contributions of 12% by Victrex. We are supportive of flexible working, offer private medical insurance and give employees 29 days annual leave per annum bank holidays with the option of purchasing up to 2 additional weeks leave too. The perks are great, but so is our culture - and you can read more about it below. You’ve Applied – now what? So you’ve submitted an application to one of our Apprenticeship Programmes – nice work The Talent Team will review your application in collaboration with the Hiring Manager and Training Providers to determine if you are eligible to undertake the Apprenticeship of your choice with us. Afterwards, the selection process might look like so: Stage 1 – Online Interview or Psychometric Assessments Stage 2 – Assessment Centre (this might include an interview, show & tell presentation, site tours, case study) Our Apprenticeship Programmes are very popular so please do bear with us whilst we process your application. NO RECRUITMENT AGENCIES PLEASE. At present, we are not accepting any candidates via a recruitment agency or third party. About Victrex Victrex is an innovative world leader in high-performance PEEK (Poly Ether Ether Ketone) and PAEK (Poly Aryl Ether Ketone) polymer solutions focusing on the strategic markets of automotive, aerospace, energy and industrial, electronics and medical. Every day, millions of people use products and applications containing our materials – from smartphones, aeroplanes and cars to energy operations and medical devices. With over 40 years‘ experience, we are developing world leading solutions with PEEK and PAEK-based polymers and selected semi-finished and finished parts which enable environmental and societal benefit for our customers and our markets and drive value for our shareholders Vision and culture At Victrex we have a clear purpose: to bring transformational and sustainable solutions which address world material challenges every day. This underpins our core values; passion, innovation and performance which are at the heart of our business. Our culture is shaped by how we work together, driving for results with a focus on customers, continuous improvement and doing the right thing. Our values, passion, innovation, and performance are at the heart of our business and we value and recognise how every employee plays an important role in enabling us to deliver our growth strategy. Sustainability is core to our strategy. We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint while supporting society through our sustainable products and making a positive impact on our local communities. We have recently become winners of the prestigious Ecovadis Silver Award, which is a universal acknowledgement of our sustainability rating as being in the top 5% of over 75,000 companies. We are also proud to be recognised as a ‘Disability Confident’ employer. Our aim is to provide the support of accessibility and community within Victrex for everyone. So, if you need any help, advice or just want a confidential chat regarding any Diversity, Equity or Inclusion matters even before you apply to Victrex, then here is what you need to know: The enabling support that Victrex prides itself on giving, starts from when anyone applies or wants to apply to join our team. We are always here to help provide any ‘reasonable adjustments’ you may need during your application process. So please contact us to discuss your specific requirements in more depth. We even have a dedicated email that anyone can use to reach out for help, advice, and a confidential chatwhatever you need to know, and to help ensure an equitable solution, that’s right for you, right from the start That email is: enablerecruitmentvictrex.com Victrex values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community. Please talk to us about flexible working.